Union protest planned outside Walmart

Members of United Food and Commercial Workers plan to join with Walmart employees Saturday to protest in Salinas as Rob Walton, an heir of Walmart's founder, races two of his multimillion dollar race cars at the Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

At 11 a.m., workers will gather in front of the Salinas Walmart at 1800 N. Main St. to protest the Walmart board chairman's use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize low Walmart wages, according to a union release.

The protest will take place on the same day Walton plans to race his $16-million plus vehicles at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the release said.

Walton and other family members behind Walmart control the world's largest private employer and have amassed more wealth than 42 percent of American families combined, according to the release.

That wealth is, in actuality, subsidized by taxpayer money, according to the release.

"[A] report issued in June describes how on average a single Walmart store costs taxpayers nearly $1 million in various government subsidies including food and rental assistances provide(d) to Walmart workers to supplement the company's poverty wages," according to the release.

Saturday's protest will serve to highlight Walton and his family's "use of taxpayer funds to support their lavish and expensive hobbies," the release concludes.